Electric current tapping device



March 14, 1933. R. EcKsTlN ELEGTRIC CURRENT TAPPING DEVICE Filed Jan. 2. 1929 INVENTOR KfUE/Y ECfvJ-E//Y Y ATTORNEY Hummm I" Patented Mar. 14, 1933 y um'rsn4 STATES BE'UBEN EMMEN', 0F NEW YORK,y N. Y.

nnncrmc cunnnnr Terence nnvrcn Appx'mmn. nea January a, me. senat No. 329,120.

yIhis invention relates to electric fittings and more particularly to circuit connector devices such as used in portable circuits as for example for connecting a plurality of 5 decorative lighting outfits in parallel circuit and for providing one or more outlet receptacles for' detachably tapping exposed feed conductors.l y

One object of the invention is to provide l@ an improved electric current tap fitting of the character described having quick and easy means for detachably connecting one or more portable circuits to exposed feed* conductors. I

Another object of the invention is to pro\ vide a novelly constructed tting of the character described comprising few and simple parts which shall be cheap Ato manufacture, yet orm a rugged structure, which shall be o neat in appearance, easy to install, and practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other obj cts of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the feature of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions herein- 9 after described and of which the scope of a@ application Will be indicated inthe following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. lis afront elevational View of a multiple outlet receptacle, partly in section to expose the interior, connected in circuit embodying the invention.

w Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 2-2 in Fig. '1.

Fig. 3 is abottom plan view of the improved fitting shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the bottom closure and the feed conductor wires removed, showing the current carrying parts in place. 1

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one ofthe current carrying parts shown in Figs. 1,-2 and 3.v

o Fig. 5 is a top plan view of an improved single outlet receptacle fitting shown partly the side Walls 15o (see broken away to expose the interior construction, embodying the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the casing of the improved tting shown in Fig. 6 Wit the bottom closureremoved; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the current parts shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 demv 69 notes a multiple outlet receptacle tting embodying the invention electrically connected to expose insulated conductor feed Wires 11 and mounted on a suitable support 12, said tting providing a quick detachable means -for tapping said wires 11 to one or more branch circuits 13 through conventional cap plugs 14 of portable appliance or decorative lighting outfits (not shown).

' The fitting 10 is seen to comprise a suitable 'm insulating casing or housing 15 preferably made in a single piece of a molded material such as a phencondensate or the like substance and a pair of identically constructed current carrying members 16 fitting in saidv75 casing as shown in Figs. 1- to 3, inclusive.

` The casing 15 may form a tubular structure having a closed top Wall` 15a, and an open bottom end 156. The oppositely disposed side Walls 150 of said casing 15 are Hat and 80 'there projects from the top Wall centrally through said housing structure a stanchion 15d. On either side of the stanchion 15d, said casing has formed therein pockets 15e positioned in cross-relation with respect to Fig. 3). Each pocket has a passage opening 17 extending through the top Wall 15a, said openings beine' spaced to receive the blades or prongs 14a othe cap plugs 14 for contacting the latter tothe cur- '90 rent carrying members 16. The side walls f 15e are also perorated with spaced passageA openings which communicate with the interior of the casing for contacting capv plug blades 14a inserted therein with the members 16 as is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

VEach current carrying member 16 mag comprise a relatively sti L- haped termin piece 19 having a 'binding Screv'v v20 threaded into the relexed end 19a,1`andgal 10 spring contact structure 20 firmly secured' to the other end 196 of said terminal piece 19.l

-Said T-shaped contact structure may be' made of flat resilient material having a cross stri forming with the ends thereof inwardly ent to provide oppositely extending spring contacts 21 and an inwardly bent strip forming a ,spring contact 22 outwardly ex- .tending from the end 196.

The free end of the stanchion )ve adjacent the open casing side 156 has spaced recesses 15g to receive the ends 19a of the member 16 and the spring contacts 22 are adapted to be housed in the pockets 15e having sidewalls 15m for registering with the opening 17 whereby cap yplug prongs .14a when inserted in said openings 17 electrically connect with the contacts 22. Side and end' abutment ribs 15h and 1571, respectively, may be provided for reinforcing the casing and bracing ing. Thus three separate outlet receptaclesv are provided, one on4 the closed top casing wall 15a and one each on the side walls 15o.

The outer shell structure of the casing 15 may be suitably fluted to reduce to a minimum the amount of material required and to give the fitting an ornamental appearance.

To provide a convenient means for mounting the fitting 10 to thesupport 12, lugs 23 may be provided to extend outwardly from casing 15 preferably spaced from the flat side wall 150. Said lugs 23 are perforated as at` ga for receiving attachment nails or screws To use the fitting 10, the current carrying members 16 are fitted into the casing 10, the conductor feed wires 11 are stripped at the point where the itting'lO is to be mounted, the bare portion 11a of each wire 11 is secured to one of the binding. screws 20. Through grooves 15k provided in the lat casing side walls 15e adjacent the open end 156 of the casing the conductor wires 11 are passed between the Acasing and the support 12. Aninsulating cover plate 25 may then be set into said open casing end 156 so as to shield the current carrying member 16 from being accidently short circuited.

If desired the stanchion end 15f inwardly from the recess 15g may be made with curved cross-section about which the insulated portion 116 of each of the wires 11 adjacent stripped portion 11a is wound to serve as a strain relief for the binding screw connections as shown in Figs. 1y and 2. Y

A modiied'form of the invention is shown in Figs. 5,- 6, 7 and 8. Here the fitting 110 forms but a single outlet receptacle and is seen to comprise acasing 115 of molded insulating material forming a tubular structure closed at the top end 115ev and open at the bottom end 1156 like the casing 15 det scribed above. The exterior side of the casing may be fluted and the top end 115e alone is provided with spaced passage openings 117 communicating with pockets 115e for receiving the terminal blades 14a of a plug cap14, said blades 14a as shown in Fig.l 6 being adapted to contact with the bent spring end 116a of the current carrying member 116. The end 1166 of member 116 opposite the spring end 116a forms an angular base into which is threaded the binding screw 120. Integral lug 123 for mounting the fitting 110 may be extended from opposite sides of the casing 115 adjacent the casing, open end 1156 and recesses 115k are provided to permit the passage of conductor wires 11 to and from the interior of the casing. Extending through the interior of the casing 115 ,from -the top end 115e thereof, there is a stanchion 1151i. The latter like stanchion 15d of the casing 15 being solid throughout forms a substantial reinforcement for the fitting and may have its free end 115g rounded to provide a strain relief'for the connection oflthe wires 11 to the current carrying members.

In the casing' pockets 115e having side ribs 115k and 115i, respectively, may be provided as shown in Fig. 7. l The fitting 110 is assembled and used in the same manner as described above for the fitting 10, said fitting 110 being simpler, cheaper and providingy but a single tapping outlet. e

It should be noted that the casings of. said fitting 10 and 110 require a minimum of ma- .terial yet form a relatively strong, rugged structure of neat, attractive appearance.

It will thus be seen that there are provided devices in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which are well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, l I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

walls 115m.' a side and end abutment bracing '-.9-5

1. An electric circuit tap tting comprising l 2. An elect'ri`J` circuit tap fitting compris said plu blades, a stanchion' integrally formed te) `extend centrally through said structure, and means` on the casing and stanchion for retaining the current 5 members in fitted position, said stan 'on 1 having a peri heral portion adjacent one end thereof orined to serve as a f strain relief'adapted to engage with flexible conductor wires.

ing a one-piece shell structure closedv yat one end and open at the other,said closed end' having. spacedopenings communicatingfwith the interior of ,saidA structure adapted to -receive terminal blades of a cap plug, the side walls of said shell also havin spaced openings to receive terminal bla es of another/ cap plug, a stanchion integrally ormed with said closed end extendingl within saidshell centrally thereof, said she having longitudi-v nal and transverse projections on opposite interior side walls, and current carrying members fitted into said structure in reglster with said openings for contacting with said lug blades, said current carrying members aving longitudinal and transverse contact. members bearing on said longitudinal and transverse projections, said current carryin N members also having portions enga sai stanchion for releasably retainingfsai ,cur-

rent carrying members in fitted position within said shell. f

'3. An electric circuit tap fitting comprisv ing'a one-piece Ishell structure closed at oneI end and-,open at-the other, said closedend having spaced openings communicating with the interior of said structure adapted .to receive terminal blades of a cap plug, the side walls of said shell also havin spaced open- 40. ings to` receive terminal bla es of another cap plug, a stanchion integrall formed with said closed end extendin wi saidshell centrally thereof, said ell havinglongitudinal4 and transverse projections on op site interior side walls, and current ca Y l. members fitted into said structure in register with said openings for contactingwith said lu blades, said current carrying members 50 avmg longitudinal'and transverse contact members bearing on said longitudinal and ltransverse projections, said current members havin reilexed rtion's e said stanchion or rel 1y retaining sai current carrying members in fitted position and said reilexed portions provided `with binding screws for attaching wire terminals thereto. f

In testimony whereof I ax my ature.

- REUBEN IN. 

